The thesis examines one aspect of urban structure -- namely the quality of retail site. The specific research hypothesis is that different marketing strategies can cause differences in site quality. The gasoline service station industry of Vancouver, British Columbia was chosen as a case study for purposes of testing the hypothesis. From the marketing literature it was shown that there exists two distinct strategies for marketing gasoline: non-price competition as practiced by the major oil companies and price competition as practiced by the small independents. A quality rating schedule, using both variables internal to the site itself (micro variables) and variables based on the surrounding socio-economic environment (macro variables), was devised as a surrogate measure of site quality. Gallonage performance of a station was used as a direct measure of site quality. For a sample of major company stations the correlations between site rating scores and gallonage were very high. The quality rating schedule also possessed high predictive ability for gallonage. It was demonstrated that stations of high quality (in terms of the site rating score) pump the most gasoline. In contrast, correlations between the site rating scores and gallonage for the population of price-cutters was very low. Since the average independent station pumps twice as much gasoline as the average major station, it was apparent that the site rating instrument was not a good surrogate measure of quality for the price-cutter stations. It is concluded that explanation for this discrepancy in gallonage and site scores is attributable to the differences in marketing strategy. Quality requirements for successful company service stations are different from the quality requirements of successful price-cutter stations. This fact is important to both industrial and urban planners. For example, in Vancouver the City Council embarked on an explicit plan of reducing the number of service stations. However, its actions were made without a full understanding of the different corporate strategies and have prevented what was an already declining population of stations. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

Researchers have difficulty modeling the influence of retailing attributes on consumer choice. The literature of retailing that has dealt with this issue has conventionally used experimental data for estimating the influence of retailing attributes on consumer behavior. The present research applies hedonic analysis to the measurement of the value of retailing attributes. This is accomplished by applying hedonic specifications to supply and demand models for the retail sales of unleaded gasoline for the purpose of estimating the influence of specified retailing attributes on retail prices. Four retailing attributes-accessibility, convenience, service, and competition-were expected to have a determinable value that was measurable through hedonic specifications. Spatial competition was expected to influence retail prices by lowering them. The value of retailing attributes was expected to be variable relative to household income. It was found that the value of the specified retailing attributes could be isolated and determined. The application of hedonic analysis to the supply and demand of unleaded gasoline provided a relatively precise and consistent market value, which was represented by the "ask" and "bid" implicit prices of these retailing attributes. Spatial competition was seen to exert an important influence on retailing, tending to lower retail prices. The value of retailing attributes was found to be variable relative to household income. The relative consistency and precision of hedonic analysis in the measurement of the value of retailing attribute was reinforced insofar as the findings were consistent with generally accepted notions of retail marketing and consumer behavior as represented in the literature in the field.

Thesis made openly available per email from author, 3-31-2016.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1973. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-202). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Digitized by Kansas State University Libraries

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-72). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iv, 136 p. Includes abstract.

No description available.

The aim of this dissertation is to examine the integration of social issues into the Development Planning Process through environmental assessment procedures. A Case Study of Petrol Filling Stations (PFS) was examined in order to assess the level of integration of the social environment into the development planning process. It is often the case that developments, especially large developments, are conceptualized at a scale that marginalises the needs of local communities. The indirect cost and benefits of these developments on the community is not adequately researched prior to the implementation of these developments. Local concerns from the social environment are often marginalized in the decision making process. The literature in the study indicates that public involvement is often seen as anti-development, reflecting self-interest and being typical of the NIMBY (Not in my backyard) Syndrome. This dissertation comprises two main parts. The first part provides the theory and methodology employed by the researcher to gather data to explore the topic. International and national literature is analysed in relation to the Development Planning Process, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and its evolution, Public Participation, The NIMBY Syndrome, Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and relevant case studies are explored. The second part of this research analyses in detail the case study in relation to the development planning process and the EIA process. The intention of the analysis of the case studies was to establish at exactly what point the social environment is included in the development planning process and EIA process. The intention was to further establish if the process and its practice is adequate in ensuring the assessment and inclusion of the social environment into the decision making process. The second part of this research also analyses the interviews that were undertaken in order to assess how practitioners consider and include the social environment into the decision making process. The research confirms that in this particular instance the social environment was not adequately included early enough in the decision making process. Often social concerns are considered by developers to be a mechanism to delay development and are viewed as a “stumbling block” to development. However, the recognition of social issues and good public participation have been recognized as an important factor in ensuring quick decision-making and successful implementation of projects. Social screening is critical at the outset, prior to a development application being lodged with the relevant approval authority. Developers have recognized the importance of SIA and thorough public involvement in projects. Social screening can be used as a tool outside of, or prior to, the formal Development Planning and EIA application processes. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

This thesis contains the results from researching historic gas stations along U.S. 40 in Indiana and from exploring the effects of the automobile and oil industries on the evolution of this building type. It reaches conclusions about how the stations in the study area differ from national design trends and from the prototypes created by major oil companies.Of the major gas station design types, only residential and oblong box stations were found in the study area. Since the other design types were common across the country, it is reasonable to assume that such structures also appeared in Indiana and have subsequently been demolished. Although not all types and styles were found in the study area, those that were found were comparable in form and design to other stations throughout the country.Ultimately, this thesis is a case study of gas stations in Indiana. It can be used to evaluate stations throughout the state and provides a framework for further research on gas stations along other Indiana highways. / Department of Architecture